[dano1]

To me it seems like good politics for Dubya to leave himself a little room to maneuver on this issue. Michael Kelly had an piece last year saying that the environment was W's Achilles heel. I think he's smart to stake out a more centrist position before the 2004 race gets going. He hasn't really conceded anything, and if it turns out that the electorate and/or the science ends up more dictating stringent measures, Dubya can follow that path now without appearing to waffle during the 2004 campaign.

[goldstategop]

Is that all that matters? Politics? Whatever happened to principle? If President Bush said we have to embrace Big Government and Green Religion, does that mean we have to eschew our deepest convictions for fear we won't get our share of the gravy train? Excuse me Freepers, but I think we should step back and take a long hard look at ourselves. We're in danger of becoming everything that we've fought against.

[Roy Tucker]

I am not so sure. There goes any chance of development of ANWR and ending our dependence on foreign oil and manipulation by the Saudis and other oil producers. We will now be stuck with the status quo for the remainder of the President's term(s)in office. You can see that a lot of conservatives are disappointed with some of Bush's tactics.

Someone quoted Dubya as saying he thought the mistake his father made was not spending his political capital after the Gulf War. He may be right. Well, Dubya is not making that mistake, he is spending his political capital like it is going out of style.

[montag813]

To me it seems like good politics for Dubya to leave himself a little room to maneuver on this issue. Michael Kelly had an piece last year saying that the environment was W's Achilles heel. I think he's smart to stake out a more centrist position before the 2004 race gets going. He hasn't really conceded anything, and if it turns out that the electorate and/or the science ends up more dictating stringent measures, Dubya can follow that path now without appearing to waffle during the 2004 campaign.

Agreed. And having Rush Limbaugh treated like Sister Souljiah will warm up the soccer moms and take the wind out of the enviro wackos' sails.

How are the Sierra Club, NRDC, et al supposed to raise money and mobilize their base if both parties are the "same" (even though Dubya will take no explicit action)? Great smokescreen by the Bushies and the NYT fell right in. Rush's rant was probably requested by Rove.